MIASMIC Place Of Pendants 1

Chapter Thirty Four

Earth Wall

I was glad of the wine instead of ale. It was a little sour but drinkable, and much better than the bitterness of the ale. When we finished our meal, Maggie returned to take our bowls. I only partly ate mine Conall finished it off.

“Milady if’n ye don’t mind I ha taken tha liberty of havin’ a bath taken tae ye room. Tha lads are fillin’ it the noo fer ye.”

“Thank you Maggie I appreciate that, I would love a bath.”

“Do I no get a bath too?” Dougall asked looking like a child who had missed out on a sweet.

“Aye me lord, yers tis oot back wi tha pigs.” Maggie sniped as she took the bowls huffing off to the kitchen. Conall shook with laughter.

“Tis no funny!” Dougall snapped.

“Aye it is.” Conall laughed. “A mud bath would do ye well.”

“Aww Dougall, maybe you can have mine after I have had a bath.” I said sympathetically.

“Nay he can’t.” Conall snapped with a mouth full of bannock. Dougall rolled his eyes tutting.

When the boys had finished their ale we followed Maggie up a wooden staircase. Maggie grunted at the first door which was Dougall’s. Ours was the third door.

The room was a little bigger than the last inn we stayed at. As we entered two young stable boys ran out with buckets in their hands.

Maggie shouted after them. “Off wi’ ye scallywags.” She turned saying if we needed anything to let her know before closing the door behind her.

The bath looked inviting getting quickly started stripping off my clothing.

“Do ye need me to turn me back?” Conall smiled.

I smiled back continuing to strip no longer feeling embarrassed to do so. Getting into the bath a knock came at the door. Conall strode to answer it only opening it a fraction so whomever it was couldn’t see me. I couldn’t hear who it was but heard Conall say he would be there in a moment before shutting the door.

“Who was it?”

“Lass there is a problem with one of tha horses. I’m going to see what tha problem is.”

“Take Dougall with you just in case.”

“In case o’ what?” He questioned “I dinnae need Dougall to hold ma hand. Am sure tis nothing.”

Conall leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips.

“I’ll be back before ye finish yer bath. If ye are still in it I’ll join ye.”

“Deal.”

I stayed in the bath until the water began to cool. Conall should have been back by now. I got out of the bath, and dried myself. I had a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach something wasn’t right. I don’t know why, I just felt it. I dressed and knocked on Dougall’s door.

When he answered the door the look on my face told him something was wrong.

“What is it Morgan?”

“Conall went to check the horses quite some time ago, he hasn’t come back.”

“When, why would he go check tha horses?”

“Someone came to the door and said there was a problem. He went to check. Something’s wrong I know it.”

“Wait here I will go find him.” Dougall rushed to put his boots on.

“No! I am coming with you. No arguments.”

We hurried down the stairs and out the door to the stables. Dougall shouted for Conall as he moved quickly between the horses.

One of the stable boys came around the corner. Dougall questioned him, but the boy didn’t know anything. He hadn’t seen Conall, and he said nothing was wrong with the horses.

I ran out of the stables shouting Conall’s name. I was shaking thinking the worst possible thing that could have happened to him. Dougall came up behind me placing a hand on my shoulders.

Then I spotted the wolf running towards us in the distance. When the wolf saw me, he stood his ground and howled. I went from a shaking mess to a controlled angry woman. I knew as soon as I saw Silver that Conall had been taken.

“Saddle the horses. I’m going to go get Abbey.” I yelled running back to the Inn. Dougall didn’t question he high tailed it back into the stable.

Returning I had Abbey on my back and the quiver hanging at my side. Dougall was waiting with the horses, saddled and ready to go. He helped me up and we took off after the wolf. Silver ran like the wind; we were right behind him. We rode hard in the saddle for near an hour. I just hoped that we could get to Conall before he was hurt. Why the hell would they take Conall? I was determined not to lose him now, and not to a bloody Brollachan.

The question of why take him burned in my mind. As we swept over a hill coming down into a low valley we caught the sight of four horses ahead of us. A body slumped over the saddle in front of one of the riders. We pushed the horses faster keeping pace with the wolf. The burning of the pendant was enough to tell me they were Brollachan’s.

Closing in enough I dropped the reins, pulling Abbey out of her brace.

Pulled a bolt, catching the look of shock on Dougall’s face at me riding without hands. I simply nodded and loaded it, not once worrying or thinking I might fall off the horse. They had my husband, and I was getting him back.

I held my aim and let the bolt fly. It lodged into the back of a rider. His body tumbled from his horse. The horse kept going. I loaded another bolt and lined my aim again. The bolt took out a second rider.

“Lass can ye leave one fer me.” Dougall yelled.

I dropped Abbey into her brace and took the reins back. The last two riders slowed their horses and turned with swords in their hands.

“Now tis what I’m talking about.” Dougal shouted pulling his sword and waving it in the air, screaming a war chant.

I wondered when he’d gotten it as he hadn’t been wearing it when we went down to the stables. Galloping towards the riders the wolf leaped in the air and took rider three from his horse. The last rider threw his load to the ground and charged Dougall. Jumping down I rushed to Conall. He was out cold, his hands and feet tied. His face covered in blood from a head wound. I quickly untied his hands then set about healing him.

Dougall was fighting the Brollachan with his sword on horseback. He also appeared to be enjoying goading his opponent. Jumping off their horses, the goading continued. Dougall turning his back, wiggling his butt before spinning back slicing the arm of the Brollachan.

With a final turn he took off in one aimed sweep the Brollachan’s head. Brollachan down he raced to us.

“How is he?” He panted dropping down beside Conall.

“I’ve healed his head wound. He should wake soon.” I couldn’t find any other wounds on him. I just hoped that I had gotten to him in time. We both turned when the wolf howled. Our eyes followed where he was looking. Coming over the hill were more riders, a lot more riders. I drew my breath in.

“God’s blood.” Dougall exclaimed. “There must be at least fifty or more.”

“That’s it! I have had enough!” I yelled as I got to my feet. Dougal tried to pull me back down.

“Lass we no can fight so many.”

I pulled away from Dougall and marched forward. I was angry, no I was a raging fire storm. Incensed, they took my husband, they hurt him, and now they were going to pay. I raised my hands palms down.

The ground began to rumble and shake. I raised them higher as a wall of dirt, stones and rocks rose in front of me. Not waiting I flung my hands forward. The wall moved towards the riders increasing in speed as it went.

The wall took out most of the riders leaving a dozen still coming somehow managing to miss the swirling wall of dirt. I pulled Abbey and loaded her with a bolt. As one bolt was released I loaded another. Five riders down. The wolf had reached a rider taking him down swiftly, going for the next.

Dougal mounted his horse and raced headlong into the foray, sword once again swinging. Dougal as loud as Conall screamed another war cry.

One bolt left I held Abbey loaded, waiting. The wolf took out another rider tearing him from his horse. Dougall finished the last two off.

I unloaded the bolt and put Abbey back in her brace. I returned to Conall just as he was coming around.

I put my hands on Conall’s face searching his eyes to make sure he was ok. I kissed his face and his mouth. He didn’t respond he sat looking owl faced at me. Dougall fell to his side.

I was worried by the look on Conall’s face if he had a head injury. I checked him again, feeling for any bumps or wounds.

“Bràthair are ye ok? Ye should have seen tha lass she was amazing. Ne’er missed with her bolts, and tha wall o’ dirt and stones. She took out near on fifty o’ tha bastards.” Dougall ranted.

Conall got to his feet his attitude cold and distant as if Dougall hadn’t said anything.

“Dougall ye’ll need to give me a lift back to tha inn.” Conall stated mechanically as he walked towards Dougall’s horse.

“Conall.” I called. I was worried, why was he was ignoring me? My heart sank. Maybe he did have a brain injury or hadn’t come to his right mind as yet.

“I’m fine lass. We need to get back.” I looked to Dougall silently pleading him to help. How I wasn’t sure. I didn’t understand what was wrong with him. It didn’t help with him wanting a ride from Dougall and not me. I felt totally dejected. Conall hoisted himself into the saddle with Dougall getting up behind him.

We rode back to the inn in silence. I gave Conall a few side glances, but he kept his sight forward. I knew Dougall was whispering to him it also seemed that he received no response.

Arriving at the stable Conall jumped down and disappeared into the inn leaving Dougall and one of the stable boys to unsaddle the horses.

I felt lost walking the inn. I couldn’t work out what was wrong with him. Maybe the hit on the head had done more damage than I thought. That would account for his strange behaviour. Conall sat in the corner with an ale already in front of him. I sat down at the table.

“Lass ye need to sleep.” He stared at his ale. “We be sailing fer tha isle in tha morn.” His voice more of a father than a husband.

“Conall. Did I do something wrong? Have I upset you somehow?” I beseeched wringing my hands.

He looked at me as if he was looking at a stranger. My heart sank lower.

“Ye saved me twice.”

“Yes, and you saved me twice.”

“I am yer protector. If’n ye no had yer ability. Ye would be dead an I would nay have been able to save ye.”

What was I to say to that. In one way, what he was saying was true but in another it was not. I said the only thing I could think of.

“You are not only my protector, you are also my husband. I’m sorry.” What was saying I was sorry for? How could he be angry that I saved him? Did he expect me to just let them take him? Tears began streaming down my face.

Conall turned to look at me a frown creasing his brow.

“An why would ye be sorry?” He stood and left the inn without another word.

I was shattered. Getting up Dougall came through the door.

He gave me a distraught look before I turned for the stairs and ran to the room. I removed Abbey and the brace, my boots and jerkin. I laid on the bed thinking about what Conall has said. I didn’t really know how to deal with this situation. Conall had looked impassive, defeated.

I understood the words he had uttered ′I am ye protector’. How was I going to fix this? My head swirled with possible answers. None making much sense. Would it make things better between us if I was to give up my new-found ability? I didn’t think I could continue the journey without him. We had only known each other for a few days, but damn I love him. Our hearts and souls are joined. I would do anything he asked me to without thinking about the consequences.

Could I give my abilities up? Wouldn’t it deny who I was, who I had become?

I was drowning in my thoughts when a knock came at the door. I jumped up immediately thinking it was Conall. Opening the door, I realized that Conall wouldn’t have knocked. A distressed looking Dougall stood there.

“Dougall, have you spoken to him…as he...”

Dougall interrupted me. “I have lass. I have to go...”

“Go where…where are you going?” The thought of Dougall leaving was too much.

“Lass do ye trust me?” I nodded. “Morgan then trust I will be back. No leave tha inn until I return.” It was more of an order than a request.

“Where are you going?” Aware of the desperation in my voice. “You can’t leave now I need you. We have to help Conall. Oh Dougall it’s all my fault.” Tears whelmed in my eyes again.

Dougall took my hands in his. “Tis no yer fault Morgan, Conall is a might lost with yer abilities. I guess he thinks he has let ye doon. I will be back with help.”

Tears continued running down my face. Dougall leaned forward to kiss me on the cheek. “I will be back. Wait for me.” With that he left.

I stood in the doorway feeling totally helpless. Unsure of how and where Dougall could find help. What sort of help could he bring back? I closed the door and returned to the bed. I sobbed into the pillow feeling utterly desolate. I didn’t think my abilities would be such a problem. I needed to finish my parent’s mission but at what cost? My mother had lost my father because of the mission. Would I also lose Conall?

I got up angry with the conflicting thoughts in my head snatching the pendant from around my neck throwing it on the bed. Pacing the floor, a tap came at the door. I opened it to a young woman around my age. Shorter than I with red hair plaited over one shoulder. She was dressed as a maid, but I couldn’t remember seeing her before.

She curtsied. “Pardon me milady me name is Betty. Mistress Maggie asked if ye could be of assistance.”

“Maggie? What’s wrong?”

“Tha mistress well she havin’ a…woman’s problem and thought ye being a lady tha ye could help her as such. Would ye come wi’ me milady?”

Unsure of what Maggie’s problem was I was happy to help if I could. Following Betty downstairs led me behind the counter.

“Where is Maggie?” She hadn’t exactly said what Maggie’s problem was other than the female kind. She just waved her hand frantically at me to follow her as she disappeared around the corner of the counter and through a door. I followed.

On the other side of the door were a set of well-worn stairs with little lighting. Betty hurried down them.

“Betty, where is she?” I called after the scurrying girl. Again, she didn’t answer me. This was very strange why would Maggie be down here. Still, I followed the girl.